Its not that they weren’t challenged. Each game was hardfought, each game the other teams played very well, and threated to score… but the Scrappers pitching and defense came through when it mattered most to keep the opponents off the board.

On Monday night, the Shock and Scrappers were supposed to close out their season at Municipal Stadium in Waterbury, but mother nature was not playing along. Historic levels of rain were dumped on the area on Sunday, and then another huge wave of thunderstorms came through again on Monday for further effect. Fortunately after a playoffs with more rainouts than we’ve ever had, we finally were able to close out the season on Tuesday night (8/21/24) at Fuessenich Park in Torrington. The Scrappers got to close out their second CTL Championship in 3 years, on their home field in strong fashion.

The Scrappers were opportunistic and disciplined at the plate in the bottom of the second, turning 6 walks and a few well placed singles into 7 runs. Thats really was the game right there. The shock were battling a very low setting sun, starter Chris McGrath and reliever Nate Pirog were battling to find the zone, and the combination was one rough inning. The Shock threatened multiple times, but every time they had runners in scoring position, Derek Duffy got the pitch or the play he needed to shut down the Shock scoring chance. In the top of the 7th, Shawn Cleary got on via a single up the middle, follwed by Kyle Lentini getting on via error by the Scrappers 3rd baseman Schlitter, followed again by a seeing eye tough blooper from Mark Creamer behind the pitcher in front of the SS Gavin Lavallee… loading the bases for the Shock with one out. The next batter Tommy Stagis laced a hard hit grounder right back to Duffy on the mound, who proceeded to get the force at home to catcher Chris Ruiz who threw to first to Jack Drewry for the inning ending double play.

For the Bristol Shock, they were led at the plate by veteran slugger Kyle Pileski who went 3-3 with a double on the day. Also for the Shock, Carson Lentini, Colby Jones, Shawn Cleary, also Mark Creamer had hits for Bristol. For the Scrappers, it was a balanced attack of walks and 5 well timed hits. For the Scrappers, Jack Drewry, Andrew Hinkley, Gavin Lavallee, Zack Rinkavage each had a hit. It was Eric Rovinetti’s RBI single off of Chris McGrath that openned up the scoring and giving the Scrappers the only run they needed.

Congrats to the Scrappers on their fantastic season, and their dominating stretch through the playoffs without allowing a run.